Semaphore-signal attachment.



No. 809,678. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906. C. H. GILL.

SEMAPHORE SIGNAL ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1905.

Witnesses departing from the principle of the invention UNITE STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

SENIAPHORE-SIGNAL ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '9, 1906.

Application filed February 1, 1905. Serial No. 243,735.

I!) ctZZ 1071/0111, it puny concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Litchfield, in the county of Montgomery and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Semaphore-Signal Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal devices employed in connection with railway operations more particularly of the class known as semaphore-signal devices used at telegraphstations for notifying the operatives of approaching trains that orders are to be received at that particular station and for imparting other information, and has for its object to provide a simply-constructed device whereby the semaphore is automatically set by the telegraph operator in the act of transferring the order-blanks from a speciallyconstructed receptacle to his desk at the station.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply-constructed device whereby access to the order-blanks can be obtained only by first releasing the semaphore mechanism and setting the same, so that the setting of the semaphore necessarily precedes the writing of the order for the approaching train.

IVith these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corre sponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the improved device applied. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the receptacle for the order-blanks.

In railway operations a semaphore-signal device, (represented at 10,)is employed to notify approaching trains as to whether or not they are to stop for orders or for other pur poses, the semaphore-arm being under the control of the telegraph operator within the station by a cord and a system of levers or other devices 1 1 leading to a convenient point and usually held by a hook 011 the wall 12 of the station to maintain the arm 13 of the semaphore depressed, as in Fig. 1. Then when the operator receives the order or other message to be delivered to the approaching train he detaches the holding-cord from the hook, which releases the semaphore-arm and per mits the weight 14 to throw the arm into a horizontal position, which is understood by the engineer on the train to mean that he is to stop at that station.

As a measure of precaution the signal should be set before the order is written, as many serious accidents have occurred from the neglect of the operator to set the stop-signal and the principal object of the present invention is to render it impossible for the operator to obtain access to his ordenblanks without first automatically causing the signal to be set, thus precluding any chance for error in performing this very necessary duty. The means employed for accomplishing this result consists in attaching a movable cover or door to the cabinet or receptacle in which the order-blanks and other necessary materials are stored and providing the cover with means for connecting to the semaphore-operating cord, so that the semaphore-arm will be held in withdrawn position by its connection to the closed cover. Then when the operator opens the cabinet cover or door to obtain access to his blanks he releases the semaphorecord and automatically sets the signal.

The cabinet is represented as a whole at 15 with numerous shelves 16 to support the va rious blanks and manifold sheets and the like employed for recording the orders or other matter.

The door or cover 17 is preferably hinged at the top, as at 18, and provided with a hook 19, extending rearwardly of the door and projecting above the same to receive the ring 20 of the semaphore-cord 11. The hook 19 being disposed in the rear of the hinges 18, the upward pull of the cord 11 will hold the door 17 closed. By this means the blanks and other material upon the shelves 1 6 are accessi ble only by opening the door 17, and the ac tion of opening the door will invert the hook 19 and release the semaphore-holding mechanism. Thus the operator will necessarily set the semaphore-signal before he writes the ing its own connecting means with the sema phore-cord; but this would not be a departure from the principle of the invention, as

the same mechanism in duplicate would be employed.

For the purpose of illustration a pair of cabinets or receptacles are shown in Fig. 2, one for the blanks used for trains going in one direction and one for the blanks used for trains going in the opposite direction.

Each of the cases 15 is provided with a relatively long rod 21, hinged at 22 to the casing and terminating in a hook 23 to receive the ring 19 for supporting the semaphore-arm in an intermediate position, as indicated by dotted lines at 24 in Fig. 1, the intermediate position being employed as a caution or move-slow signal.

The device may be readily adapted to all the various forms and constructions of semaphpres in use upon the various railroads in operation.

The device is simple in construction, accurate and certain in its action, and very useful and convenient for the purposes described.

[ Having thus-described the invention, What is claimed is 1. In a signal-controlling device, a receptacle, a closure connected for swinging upwardly from said receptacle, a hook attached to said closure rearwardly of its connected end and disposed with its open side toward the free end of the same, a movable signal member, means for actuating said signal member and coupling means between said signal-actuating means and said hook,whereby the weight of said closure maintains the signal member in one position and automatically releasable by the opening of said closure.

2. In a signal-controlling device, a receptacle, a closure connected for swinging upwardly from said receptacle, a hook attached to said closure rearwardly of its connected end and disposed with its open side toward the free end of the same, a semaphore-signal arm swinging from one end, means for actuating said arm, and coupling means between said signalactuating means and said hook, whereby the weight of said closure maintains said semaphore-arm in one position and automatically releasable by the opening of said closure.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H GILL. Witnesses W. A. YODER, JOHN KEATING. 

